VIDEO: Pupil’s ‘stop bullying’ plea is an online hit

A video created by Connor Williams, 12, and uploaded to Facebook by his mum has gone viral, and been viewed more than 10,000 times.

Now he hopes he can inspire other youngsters suffering at the hands of bullies to stand up for themselves.

Mum Francine Williams, 29, said she was “heartbroken” to see the video, which shows a letter titled “People Who Have Bullied Connor”.

In it, the Montgomery High School pupil lists seven people he accuses of bullying him since he started at the school in September, followed by the words: “This has to stop.”

The youngster, from Bispham, told The Gazette: “I was just getting sick of it, and after the last time it happened I just got a piece of paper and started writing what I thought.

“I just hope people might actually leave me alone for once. I don’t know why they do it – I think it’s just me.

“They started saying stuff, saying I’m small and saying I’m gay.”

The Year Seven pupil said he had also been physically hurt by some of his abusers.

As well as the emotional torture, he said he ended up in a fight with a boy he had never spoken to before, after fellow pupils began hitting him while he was in line queueing for a PE lesson.

His mum said on another occasion he was pinned up against a wall by two Year 11 pupils.

Since the video went viral, being shared more than 100 times on Facebook, he and his mum have met senior staff at the school in a bid to resolve the problem.

In his letter, Connor describes how he was left feeling powerless by his bullies.

He wrote: “Ever since I’ve started at Montgomery, I’ve been bullied.

“People I don’t know have bullied me. It hurts just to ignore them. I’m nearly in Year Eight now and since I’ve told the teachers they were no help at all.

“I just want to stick up for myself but I can’t. I’m not strong enough. Please help.”

The school said it was not aware of this latest incident until the video was brought to attention of staff.

Francine, of Ardmore Road, said she was pleased with the school’s response, although she felt more could have been done when bullying problems had been reported previously.

She added: “It broke my heart when he sent me the video.

“He has kept coming home from school upset – he used to love school.

“He’s had a lot of support from people since the video, telling him how brave he is.

“He’s showing others they can speak out.

“The school has been quite helpful. They have spoken to me and they seem like they want things to change.”

Simon Brennand, headteacher at Montgomery, said: “The school has got a robust policy to minimise bullying. It is a really high priority issue for us. Senior colleagues met with the student and his parents on Friday morning about the issue, which previously had not been brought to the attention of Montgomery staff. We are offering complete support.

“We would always encourage students and parents to share issues as soon as possible to enable them to be resolved.

“We care deeply about our young people – it matters to us that they feel happy and content.”